Trans Failsafe!

[Goonerdad]

Hi Guys,

I know there is a lot on here about the error message 'Trans Failsafe' but I am proper confused about it!

I'm not really looking for a solution as I am not mechanically minded at all, just wanted to post my experiences so far.

I have had this message intermittently since I have had the car (Oct 2011) although it is now every day! The car resets after the ignition is switched off for about 20 seconds.

After the second error message I took it to a BMW indy who after some checking changed the alternator (under warranty so no cost).

I have also had a new battery fitted but the error message is now daily (twice today!)

Took it to the Indy again this morning, he plugged it in and could find no faults at all. He was stumped and suggested I took it to Gravesend Transmissions (apparently a well respected gearbox place).

I have not had the opportunity to visit them yet.

Is there anything else I should be doing?

Anyone used Gravesend Transmissions before?

Apart from the annoyance of the frequency of the trans failsafe and the pulling over to reset it - everything else is fine!!

[X5Sport]

Sounds like you're doing the right things so far. When the warning comes on does your transmission actually lock in any gear - such as 3rd or 5th? Any odd noises, unusual shifting, lurching etc? Are all gears available including reverse, or any 'reluctance' in the box to make changes?

As long as your local tranny shop can read the gearbox fault codes you will at least get pointed in the right direction.

[weirdfish]

PM sent.

[Goonerdad]

[quote=""X5Sport""]Sounds like you're doing the right things so far. When the warning comes on does your transmission actually lock in any gear - such as 3rd or 5th? Any odd noises, unusual shifting, lurching etc? Are all gears available including reverse, or any 'reluctance' in the box to make changes?

As long as your local tranny shop can read the gearbox fault codes you will at least get pointed in the right direction.[/quote]

The transmission goes into one gear only which allows me to drive but no power. Reverse is available.

No odd noises.

The radio/sat nav goes off - then comes on again.

Lots of warning lights on the dash - some remain throughout...different ones each time I think!

[X5Sport]

Sounds electrical from that description. If it was only the gearbox then only it would be affected with no other warnings and the radio/nav would not go off. Battery connections all tight? No loose/corroded earths in the boot under the spare etc?

With the electrical work that's been done I would certainly be looking at it to make sure all the connections had been done up properly and were undamaged. Including the alternator drive belt.

[Goonerdad]

[quote=""X5Sport""]Sounds electrical from that description. If it was only the gearbox then only it would be affected with no other warnings and the radio/nav would not go off. Battery connections all tight? No loose/corroded earths in the boot under the spare etc?

With the electrical work that's been done I would certainly be looking at it to make sure all the connections had been done up properly and were undamaged. Including the alternator drive belt.[/quote]

Hi,

Thanks for this.

You really are talking a language I don't understand!!! Wouldn't have a clue where to start or what to look for.

I might take it to the transmission place, get them to check it out, then take it to an Indy and ask them to check the electrics.

[X5Sport]

OK, the battery is in the boot as you know and so are a lot of the negative power connections - including the main bond between the battery negative pole and the chassis. If anything in there is loose it can cause odd things to happen on the electrics which then throw all kinds of odd warnings up - most of which are spurious, which is why they disappear again when the car is switched off.

Those of us who have had battery issues in our own cars have seen similar warnings to the ones you are reporting, and often starting trouble too - slow cranking.

As the work you have had done will have disturbed the main power connections it's just possible something might be loose and if so will suddenly cause circuits to go 'open' so causing electrical spikes to occur and trigger erroneous fault codes because the computer modules (and there are a lot in an E53) only want nice smooth power.

There may be a genuine issue with the box too, but the electrics certainly sound (to me) as if they need checking, particularly that the alternator connections and belt are tight and that the battery connections are the same - and clean.

Is that any better?

[Goonerdad]

Ah ok - thank you. I understand it a bit better now.

Thanks for being patient and taking the time to explain.

[X5Sport]

Not a problem......

As an Injunear I tend to forget that not everyone else who drives a car is, or can understand techie talk - same as I struggle with IT Geeks and Nerds at work. They really do talk in another language...they may even be on another planet....